Police Target Macomb County Speeders In M-59 Crackdown
UTICA (WWJ) - Authorities in Macomb County are cracking down on drivers in hopes of cutting down on accidents along M-59.
Police in multiple communities along M-59, Hall Road — together with sheriff's deputies and Michigan State police — are putting out extra patrols in an effort to get motorists to drive more carefully as we head into inclement weather and the busy holiday shopping season.
At 11 a.m. Wedmesday, MSP troopers were pulling people over on the both the westbound and eastbound sides of M-59 near the Merril Road overpass.
Shelby Police Lt. Jeff Daniel said it's no secret police are out there, yet people are still driving 85, 90 and 100 miles-per-hour.
"We have a lot of crashes, not only for distracted driving, but for speed," Daniel said. "As you can see out here, we have MSP out there on their motorcycles and there's a radar trailer just down from them — there's lots of police units up here on the bridge — and people are still doing 85 in a 55."
He said they're urging drivers to slow down and avoid distractions.
"People are on their phones, they're doing their makeup, they're reading their paper," Daniel said. "Whatever they're doing in their cars, most of the time they're not concentrating on driving."
Jim Bay, who often travels that stretch, said that while he wouldn't mind extra police patrols, road repairs are what he'd prefer.
"Well, it's starting to fall apart and needs to be fixed," Bay told WWJ's Mike Campbell.
He said bumper-to-bumper traffic is an ongoing issue on Hall. "Rush hours and early morning, afternoon — it's bad. Other times you can get through fairly well, so it's a timing deal."
Dawn Roberts, who works along M-59, said it's about time that police cracked down on dangerous drivers.
"My son was just in an accident, my husband's been in an accident. You've got the people in their fancy cars," Roberts said. "A lady pulled right in front of me and she laughed!"
Driver Judy Bates was asked if she believes extra patrols will make a difference.
"I'm hopeful; very hopeful...I hope it will, because fewer accidents would be great!"
Along with Shelby, officers from Utica, Sterling Heights and Clinton Township are also participating.
